Funeral services for Donald D. Austinson, 86, of Trenton, Mo., formerly of Clarks Grove, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, at Hollandale Reformed Church. The Rev. Neal Ooms will officiate. Interment will be at Hollandale Cemetery with military honors accorded by area veterans organizations. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Donald died Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, Mo.
Donald D. (Slug) Austinson was born on Jan. 30, 1923, to Oliver and Julia (Enerson) Austinson in Lyle. He grew up in the Lyle area and graduated from Lyle High School. Donald served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. After service, Donald returned to the Clarks Grove area and worked as a machine operator and shop superintendent for Universal Milking Machines Co. Donald married Pearl Alders on Sept. 23, 1947, at Trondjem Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Hollandale Reformed Church and the American Legion. Donald also served on the Clarks Grove Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years. Pearl died in 1995. On June 28, 1997, Donald was united in marriage to Betty L. Thrap/Poole in Nashua, Iowa. The couple made their home in Trenton, Mo., and Donna, Texas, in the winter. While living in Trenton, Donald was a member of the First Christian Church in Trenton.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; children: Judean “Butch” (Jane) Austinson of Anaheim, Calif., Donald (Karen) Austinson Jr. of Clarks Grove, and Jackie (Al) Morris of New Hampshire; grandchildren: Jeff (Karli) Austinson and Julia Beth Austinson, Kelly (Frank) O’Neill, Stacie (Sean) Moore, A.J. Morris, Lisa (Mike) Mathison, and Jay (Nikki) Austinson; great-grandchildren: Sydney and Brody Austinson, Dakota and Dylan Williamson, Abby Mathison, Hanna Austinson, Alex Morris, Jocee and Shannon O’Neill, sisters-in-law, Henrietta (Don) Viktora, Evelyn Hagen and Paulette (Pete) Lukanich; brothers-in-law, Art Alders, Henry Leutink, and Kenny (Nancy) Thrap; many nieces and nephews.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Pearl; sisters: Grace and Palma; brothers: Howard and Walter; sisters-in-law: Joanne Leutink, Edona Alders and Virginia Gioffredi; and great-grandsons: Roderick Gruver and Trevor Austinson.